Rain shield



Apr. 10, 1923.

w. L. SMITH- RAIN SHIELD Filed Feb. 19, 1921 INVENTO R M ATITODRNEY I I Patented Apr; l, 1923.

WALTERL. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

earn snrnrn.

Application filed February 19, 1921. Serial No. 446,482.

To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rain Shields, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to rain shields for automobiles and more particularly to such shields adapted to provide a clear vision space for the occupants of the car.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved front shield which will divert rain falling thereon toward the sides of the car and prevent the rain from obstructing the view of the occupants and from enteringthe car. i

It is another object to provide a wind shield which will afford a clear visual area at all times and which will protect the interior of the car from rain impinging on the exposed surface of the shield and dripping or spattering therefrom.

It is a further object to provide a devic of the character mentioned which possesses features of structural superiority and functional advantage.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front view ofthe improved 7' wind and rain shield;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a modified form of shield;

Fig. i is a cross section taken on the line 4ed of Fig. 3.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a two-part wind shield consisting of a lower panel 1 and an upper panel 2, and a rain shield 3 normally secured at an angle to the wind shield. The panels 1 and 2, of glass or similar material, are mounted in suitable frames and may be supported by vertical side posts 4, arising from the body of the car adjacent the front cowl.-

The wind shield described may be of ordinary construction, and the inclination of the panels 1 and 2 may be pivotally adjustable as by thumb screws 5 or in any suitable manner. The rain shield 3 may alsoswing on pivotal connections to the supporting rods 4:, 4 and in operative position is secured at an angle with the windshield as shown in the drawings. The means for supportmg, adjusting and clamping the various panels may be of any desired rugged construction.

. The rain shield 3 is further provided with ts an indentation in its lower edge so that this edge slopes downwardly toward each end from an intermediate point 6. The inclined edges 6 and 6" meet at an obtuse angle and are respectively provided with ledges 7 and '7 "promoting outwardly substantiallyat right angles to the plane surface and forming a gutter 8 along the lower. edge of the shield when extended for rain projection.

Accumulations of rain impinging. on the 7 shield 3 and running down the incline of the shield will consequently'be caughtin the gutter 8 and carried to the sides of the car by reason of the inclination described, and

thus will be prevented from dripping off and blowing back upon the windshield and obscuring the vision of the occupants of the car. The surface of the rain. shield 3 as shown may be covered with absorbent or other rain retaining material; such/as felt,

wire netting or the like or otherwise covered or constructed to prevent any spattering or rebounding of rain drops which impinge on the surface and ordinarily might fall over the'lower edge of therain shield and be carried inwardly against the wind shieldor into the can p In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the means for diverting water are carried by the upper panel of the wind shield itself. 5

In this form there is provided a lower section 9 and an upper section 10 held by side posts 4;, i in any suitable manner. In operation the sectionlO is preferably set at an angle to the plane of the lower section 9.

The form illustrated is designed particularly to afford areas of clear vision forthe occupants of the car with the least exposure to rain. To this end the lower edge of the section 10 is preferably provided with two 1 indentations at 11 and 12 directly in front of the normal positions of the car occupants and the edge slopes downwardly from these points toward the ends of the shield. The

slopes are provided with ledges 13 and 14 forming gutters 15 for receiving the water which falls on the surfaceof the rain shield and the inclination of these gutters serves to divert the water transversely away from the areas of the wind shield where clear vision is necessary. The ledges 13 and 14 preferably fail to'ineet at the center of the shield so that a vent .16 will be provided to permit escape of the water flowing along the gutters at a central point where its fall Wlll not obstruct the visual areas of the wind shield. In this form the crests 11 and 12 of the lower ecge are preferably lower than the higher edge 17 of the section 9 to prevent free-falling rain drops from being caught by air currents and carried into the car over the edge 17 of the lower section and also better to ciiclude wind. The surface of the-shield 10 may if desired be covered with absorbent or other rain-retaining inatcrial to hold rain falling thereon and thus prevent a spattering which might result in the diversion of spray falling over the lower edge against the wind shield or into the car.

By the use of a shield of the construction described substantially all the rain that falls on its surface will be received by the gutters and thereby diverted away from the visual area toward the sides of the car to points where the drip will not be of disadvantage. T he gutters, as constructed in all the embodiments illustrated, form effective drip guards and thus both the wind shield'and the occupants of the car are protected, and unobscured vision through or under the protecting shields is allowed under all conditions.

By the improvement described 1t will be noted that the advantages referred to, among others, are attained. It is to be understood, also, that the invention embraces within its scope, as set forth in the following claims, other possible embodiments which possess the improved features of construction and operation herein disclosed.

Having described my invention, which I bination, a frame, a lower wind obstructing panel, an upper rain panel pivoted to said frame along its upper edge and disposed at an angle to and in overlapping relationship with the upper portion of said wind obstructing panel and formedat its lower edge with an indentation affording oppositely inclined lower edge portions, and a gutter having oppositely inclined portions permanently sesured respectively to said inclined edge portions and adapted to conduct accumulated water toward opposite ends of the rain panel.

3. In a front shield for automobiles, the combinationwith a wind obstructing-panel, of an auxiliary panel provided with means for preventing the dripping of rain from its lower edge, and rain drop diffusing materialdisposed in intimate contact with the front surface on said auxiliary panel.

i. In a front shield for automobiles, the combination with a wind obstructing panel, of an auxiliary panel provided with drain ing' ledges disposed along its lower edge sloping downwardly from an intermediate point, and rain drop diffusing material permanently disposed in intimate contact with the front surface on said auxiliary panel.

5. In a front shield for automobiles, in combination, a substantially vertical wind obstructing panel and an auxiliary rain panel fixed atan angle thereto for diverting rain from the area of vision of said wind obstructing panel, said panels being of glass and said auxiliary panel having a rain-drop diffusing surface adapted to prevent the spattcring of rain therefrom and having rain disposal means adjacent its lower edge adapted to divert rain toward the ends of accumulated water toward opposite ends of said upper panel;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses. 1

WALTER L. SMITH.

Witnesses: i

J. THOMSON, M. A. ()Asninv. 

